•BELLA’S POV•

Aurora was… smiling.

Genuinely smiling. And not in the forced, “I’m fine” way I’d expected after last night’s dinner when Dad asked if Matteo.

The Aurora I’d seen then had been a mix of shock and sadness, doing her best to keep up appearances after learning Matteo had left for Monaco without telling her. She’d barely spoken the rest of the evening, excusing herself to her room in the middle of dinner. I’d figured she’d spend at least a few days sulking, but here she was, practically radiant at breakfast.

I watched her closely, trying to piece it together as she chatted with Sofia over coffee. She looked...